A man who led police on a ten-mile chase ignoring their blue lights and sirens for him to pull over had never passed a driving test.

Police on patrol in Frome spotted Peter Andrew Chislett at the wheel of a Transit van and when they indicated to him to stop he accelerated away at speed.

He was pursued for more than ten miles until reaching his home and was involved in several near misses with other vehicles as he overtook them along the route.

Chislett, 31, of Leighton Lane, Evercreech, pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention and failing to stop when required by a police officer after appearing before South Somerset and Mendip Magistrates.

He also admitted driving without insurance and without a licence during the incident on January 25.

Emma Chetland, prosecuting, said officers were on duty in Marston Road, Frome, at 12.40am when they illuminated their blue lights and put on their sirens to try to pull the defendant over.

"However, he accelerated away from them and overtook another vehicle crossing a double solid white line and then pursued the vehicle for ten miles," said Miss Chetland.

"He was travelling in excess of the speed limit and there were a couple of near misses where Chislett overtook vehicles and cut back in front of them.

"Eventually he was arrested after driving into a cul-de-sac in Evercreech and it was discovered that he only had a provisional driving licence and had never passed a driving test."

Chislett told the court the van belonged to his father and he had picked it up so he could collect his daughter.

For careless driving the magistrates fined him £110 and endorsed his licence record with nine penalty points. They fined him a further £55 for failing to stop and £110 for having no insurance.

No separate penalty was made for the licence offence and no costs were imposed but he was ordered to pay a £28 victim surcharge.